Differential expression of microRNAs in bovine papillomavirus type 1 transformed equine cells

Bovine papillomavirus (BPV) types 1 and 2 play an important role in the pathogenesis of equine sarcoids (ES), the most common cutaneous tumour affecting horses. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), small non‐coding RNAs that regulate essential biological and cellular processes, have been found dysregulated in a wide range of tumours. The aim of this study was to identify miRNAs associated with ES. Differential expression of miRNAs was assessed in control equine fibroblasts (EqPalFs) and EqPalFs transformed with the BPV‐1 genome (S6‐2 cells). Using a commercially available miRNA microarray, 492 mature miRNAs were interrogated. In total, 206 mature miRNAs were differentially expressed in EqPalFs compared with S6‐2 cells. Aberrant expression of these miRNAs in S6‐2 cells can be attributed to the presence of BPV‐1 genomes. Furthermore, we confirm the presence of 124 miRNAs previously computationally predicted in the horse. Our data supports the involvement of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of ES.     

Reactions of lentil accessions from 25 different countries to Australian isolates of Ascochyta lentis

488 lentil (Lens culinaris) accessions from 25 different countries were evaluated in glasshouse tests for resistance to three Australian isolates of Ascochyta lentis. Disease symptoms on the different accessions ranged from small flecks (resistant) to extensive lesions on both leaves and stems with death of some plants (highly susceptible). No accession was found with complete resistance to ascochyta blight. The 488 accessions showed differential resistance to all three isolates of A. lentis and could be divided into five resistance groups. 26 accessions originating from Greece (1), Pakistan (23) and Turkey (2) were resistant to all three isolates, while 142 accessions showed variable reactions and 320 accessions were susceptible to all three isolates. These results demonstrate there is considerable variation in lentil germ plasm for resistance to A. lentis.     

Sporadic juvenile thymic lymphoma in a 6-month-old Holstein heifer

A 6-month-old Holstein heifer was presented for recurrent bloat and a firm, primarily left-sided mass in the caudoventral cervical region. Surgical exploration revealed a vascularized, encapsulated mass extending from the submandibular region to the thoracic inlet. Postmortem gross and histopathologic examination and the history enabled a diagnosis of sporadic thymic lymphoma.     

Effect of selection and selective genotyping for creation of reference on bias and accuracy of genomic prediction

Reference populations for genomic selection usually involve selected individuals, which may result in biased prediction of estimated genomic breeding values (GEBV). In a simulation study, bias and accuracy of GEBV were explored for various genetic models with individuals selectively genotyped in a typical nucleus breeding program. We compared the performance of three existing methods, that is, Best Linear Unbiased Prediction of breeding values using pedigree‐based relationships (PBLUP), genomic relationships for genotyped animals only (GBLUP) and a Single‐Step approach (SSGBLUP) using both. For a scenario with no‐selection and random mating (RR), prediction was unbiased. However, lower accuracy and bias were observed for scenarios with selection and random mating (SR) or selection and positive assortative mating (SA). As expected, bias disappeared when all individuals were genotyped and used in GBLUP. SSGBLUP showed higher accuracy compared to GBLUP, and bias of prediction was negligible with SR. However, PBLUP and SSGBLUP still showed bias in SA due to high inbreeding. SSGBLUP and PBLUP were unbiased provided that inbreeding was accounted for in the relationship matrices. Selective genotyping based on extreme phenotypic contrasts increased the prediction accuracy, but prediction was biased when using GBLUP. SSGBLUP could correct the biasedness while gaining higher accuracy than GBLUP. In a typical animal breeding program, where it is too expensive to genotype all animals, it would be appropriate to genotype phenotypically contrasting selection candidates and use a Single‐Step approach to obtain accurate and unbiased prediction of GEBV.     

Peanut stripe virus in Indonesia

During a survey of groundnut in 1986 and 1987 in South Sulawesi, West and East Java and West Sumatra a disease was frequently observed which is characterized by the presence of green blotches. These blotches were either randomly distributed over the entire leaflets or concentrated along the veins; sometimes they were surrounded by light green rings. On the basis of test plant studies, serology and electron microscopy it was concluded that the causal agent of the disease is peanut stripe virus (PStV). This virus has been described for the first time in the USA in 1984. Some potyviruses described earlier in Indonesia, viz. groundnut mottle-y and peanut mottle virus (PMV) probably are also PStV. The similarity of symptoms caused by PStV and peanut mottle virus was the reason why blotching on groundnut in Indonesia was ascribed for many years to PMV.As PStV causes severe yield losses, further research is being done on the epidemiology of the virus, on yield loss assesment and on testing breeding lines of groundnut for resistance.Samenvatting Tijdens een inspectie in 1986 en 1987 in Zuid Sulawesi, West en Oost Java en West Sumatra werd in aardnoot (Arachis hypogaea) veelvuldig een ziekte aangetroffen, die opviel door donkergroene vlekkerigheid. De vlekken waren onregelmatig over de bladeren verspreid of kwamen voornamelijk voor rond de nerven. Soms waren de vlekken omgeven door een lichtgroene ring. Op grond van symptomen op toetsplanten, serologische verwantschap en elektronenmicroscopische eigenschappen werd geconcludeerd, dat deze ziekte veroorzaakt wordt door het peanut stripe virus. Dit virus is voor het eerst beschreven in 1984 in Amerika. Dit is de eerste officiële melding van het virus in Indonesië.Enkele eerder beschreven potyvirussen van aardnoot in Indonesië, groundnut mottle-y en peanut mottle virus (PMV) zijn waarschijnlijk ook PStV. De gelijkenis van de door PStV and peanut mottle virus veroorzaakte symptomen heeft ervoor gezorgd dat de vlekkerigheid op aardnoot in Indonesië jarenlang aan PMV werd toegeschreven.Aangezien PStV veel schade veroorzaakt, wordt verder onderzoek gedaan aan de epidemiologie van dit virus, aan het oogstverlies en aan het toetsen van aardnootlijnen op resistentie.     

Economic valuation and conservation: Do people vote for better preservation of Shadegan International Wetland?

Shadegan International Wetland (SIW) is a unique natural ecosystem with great national and international significance, designated under Ramsar Convention. Located in southern part of Iran, this wetland serves many functions. Among them the rich biodiversity, ecological, hydrological, and economic functions are the most important. Despite the great opportunities for sustainable development of this wetland, it is currently under serious threats from a diverse range of non-sustainable activities. Underestimating SIW’s non-market values in development decisions is a major reason for the conversion and excessive depletion of its resources. The aim of this study was therefore to estimate the economic benefit of SIW as a very useful instrument to reflect the values of this unique ecosystem to society members. A choice experiment (CE) survey was undertaken to estimate the value of different nonmarket attributes of SIW. In addition to the overall model, users and nonusers preferences were also estimated. Random parameter logit (RPL) model was employed to derive the marginal value of the respondents for different attributes of the nonmarket values of SIW. Results indicated the respondents’ positive preferences towards better conservation of SIW.     

BPV-1 infection is not confined to the dermis but also involves the epidermis of equine sarcoids

In equids, bovine papillomaviruses of type 1 (BPV-1) and less frequently type 2 induce common, locally aggressive skin tumours termed sarcoids. Whereas BPV infection in cattle usually involves the epidermis and is productive in this skin layer, infection in equids is currently thought to be abortive, with virus solely residing as multiple episomes in dermal fibroblasts. Based on recent observations that do not agree with this assumption, we hypothesised that BPV also infects equid epidermis and is active in this skin layer. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a proof-of-principle study on eight distinct sarcoids. Presence of viral DNA was addressed by qualitative and quantitative BPV-1 PCR from microdissected sarcoid epidermis, and by subsequent amplicon sequencing. Viral activity was assessed by screening sarcoid epidermis for BPV-1 protein expression using immunohistochemistry (IHC) or immunofluorescence (IF). Virus-free equine skin served as negative control throughout the assays. BPV-1 DNA was demonstrated in all sarcoid epidermis samples, with viral DNA loads ranging between 2 and 195 copies/cell. Identical BPV-1 E5 genes were identified in epidermis and dermis of each of two sarcoids, yet different E5 variants were found in individual lesions. IHC/IF revealed the presence of E5 and E7 protein in sarcoid epidermis, and L1 capsomers in the squamous layer of one lesion. These findings indicate that BPV infection also involves the epidermis, where it may occasionally be productive.     

Comparative analysis of maize–soybean strip intercropping systems: a review

ABSTRACT

Traditional maize (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max (L) Merrill) intercropping practice cannot be adapted to modern agriculture due to low light use efficiency, radiation use efficiency, low comparative profits of soybeans and incompatibility with mechanization. However, a new type of maize and soybean intercropping system (MSIS) with high land equivalent ratio (LER) provides substantial benefits for small-land hold farmers worldwide. Our research team has done a wide range of research to suggest the appropriate planting geometry that ensures high yield and LER as high as 2.36, nutrient acquisition and mechanical operations in MSISs. Increase in the distance between soybean and maize rows and decrease in the spacing of maize narrow rows is useful for the high light interception for the short soybean in MSISs. This review concludes that MSIS has multifold and convincing results of LER and compatible with mechanization, while those practiced other than China still require technological advancements, agronomic measures and compatible mechanization to further explore its adaptability.